Lock



E. N. JACOB] Nov. 3, 1936.

LOCK

Filed March 16, 1929 Patented Nov. 3, 1936 as star LOCK Application March 16, 1929, Serial No. 347,651

39 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in lock devices and refers more particularly to pillar looks or that type employed in connection with door handles of automotive vehicles.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved means for maintaining the lock cylinder of locks of this type assembled with its casing, or mounting member, which means becomes active by merely inserting the lock cylinder into the casing.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a lock device of the character described in which the means for retaining the lock cylinder against retraction is readily movable to an inactive position to permit the removal of the lock cylinder, by the insertion of a slug or extension member ahead of the key.

A further and more specific object of this in vention resides in the provision of a lock device in which the lock cylinder is retained against retraction by a yieldable retaining member carried by the casing and engageable in an annular groove formed in the lock cylinder, being movable out of the groove by means of an extension of the key.

With the above and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be I made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illus trated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure l is a sectional view taken through a vehicle door handle and illustrating my invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional View taken through Figure l on the plane of the line 22, and

Figure 3 is a collective view of the lock cylinder, the retaining member and the slug which is inserted in the key slot ahead of the key when it is desired to remove the lock cylinder from its casing.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, 5

represents the handle of a vehicle which in the present instance is stamped from bendable metal and has a tubular casing 6 secured thereto to form the stem of the handle The casing t is secured to the handle by means of two diametrically opposed ears or lugs l which are welded or otherwise secured to a plate 8 forming part of the handle construction. The cylindrical tubular portion 9 of the casing which extends through an aperture ill in the plate 8 has its outer end reduced, as at M, to receive a shaft l2 through which the turning action of the handle is imparted to the door latch mechanism, not illustrated.

The outer face of the handle is provided with an aperture ii in axial alignment with the casing 6 and through which a lock cylinder It is insertable to be received in the tubular portion 9 of the casing. The lock cylinder M is of conventional construction and has a plurality of tumblers l5 which when in locked position engage in a slot l6 formed in the adjacent inner end of the casing 6 and which are retractible into the periphery of the cylinder upon the insertion of a proper key ll.

When the key is removed from the lock cylinder, and the tumblers are engaged in the slot l6, rotation of the handle is prevented by means of a locking bolt l8 slidable in a transverse opening in the inner end of the shaft l2, and through suitable openings in the tubular portion 9 of the casing, to have one end l9 extended into a suitable recess formed in an escutcheon plate 20 in the usual manner. The locking bolt i8 is retained in its position of engagement with the escutcheon plate recess by an eccentrically mounted pin 2! extended from the inner end of the lock cylinder and movable in a suitable recess 22 formed in the locking bolt. This construction is of conventional design, and as the invention resides particularly in the manner of securing the lock cylinder against longitudinal movement in the casing 6, the description will now be directed thereto.

The tubular portion 9 of the casing 6 has an opening 23 therethrough, at a medial point, with which an annular groove 2 formed in the lock cylinder aligns when the lock cylinder is in a predetermined relative position with respect to the casing 6, being secured in said position by 50 means of a retaining member 25 having a part 28 passed through the opening 23 and engaged in the annular groove 24. The retaining member 25 is preferably formed of fiat spring material and is substantially ring shaped to surround the casing 6, its part 25 being formed by folding one end to provide an inwardly directed bead.

To permit the insertion of the lock cylinder into the casing, its innermost end is tapered, as at 21, to move the part 26 of the retaining member out of its path until the annular groove 2% is aligned with the retaining member part 25 which then snaps into the groove to secure the cylinder against retraction,

However, when it is desired to remove the cylinder, persons familiar with the construction of the device may do so by inserting a slug or the like 28 into the key slot 29 of the lock cylinder ahead of the key H. The slug 2%! is then moved inwardly through the key slot 29 past the tumblers l5 and into an extension 38 of the key slot. The extension 3i terminates at the far side of the annular groove 24 and its bottom is tapered, as at 3!, so that as the key ll is moved into the lock cylinder, the slug 28 rides upwardly on the inclined surface 3! to position its top forward edge 33 in line with the outer surface of the cylinder and across the groove 24. With the slug in this position, the cylinder is turned to approximately right angles to the locked and unlocked position, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, moving the retaining member part 26 out of the groove to permit the removal of the lock cylinder from the casing by a pull on the key.

It will be noted that when the cylinder is turned to the position at which the slug holds the retaining member part 2% out of the groove 25, withdrawal of the key from the cylinder, when tension is applied to the key to remove the cylinder, is impossible as the tumblers are held against longitudinal movement by the casing inner Wall; and by making it necessary to turn the key, the removal of the cylinder by the use of a blank key or the like, is prevented.

After the lock cylinder has been taken from the casing, it is desirable that the slug 28 be removed without withdrawing the key, to prevent the tumblers from dropping out. This is accomplished by forming the extension slot 3% with an open top, thus permitting the slug to be removed therethrough.

To provide a more finished appearance for the stem of the handle and to enclose the retaining member 25, a sleeve 34 is passed over the casing 6 and is suitably connected with the handle structure, with its inner end abutting the escutcheon plate.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which an invention of the character described appertains, that I provide an improved lock device which is particularly adaptable for vehicle door handles, in which the lock cylinder may be quickly assembled with the handle, and may be easily removed therefrom, whenever necessary, by merely inserting an extension member ahead of the key.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a lock device of the character described, a mounting member, a lock cylinder rotatable in the mounting member upon the insertion of a proper key, means for securing the lock cylinder assembled with the mounting member, and means engageable by the end of the key for moving the securing means to inactive position to permit the lock cylinder to be removed from the mounting member.

2. In a lock device of the character described,

a mounting member, a lock cylinder rotatable in the mounting member upon the insertion of a proper key, means for securing the lock cylinder assembled with the mounting member, and means insertable into the lock cylinder ahead of the key for moving the securing means to inactive position when it is desired to remove the lock cylinder from the mounting member.

3. In a lock device of the character described, a mounting member, a lock cylinder in the mounting member and having tumblers which normally hold the lock cylinder against rotation but are moved to inactive position upon the insertion of a proper key to permit rotation of the lock cylinder in the mounting member, means cooperating with the mounting member and the lock cylinder for securing the lock cylinder against longitudinal movement with respect to the mounting member, and means whereby an extension of the key moves the securing means to inactive position to permit removal of the lock cylinder from the mounting member.

4. In a lock device of the character described, a supporting casing having a bore, a lock cylinder mounted in the supporting casing bore and rotatable therein upon the insertion of a proper key, means for securing the lock cylinder against longitudinal movement in said casing bore, and means for moving the securing means by insertion of the lock cylinder into the casing bore, and said securing means assuming its active position when the lock cylinder is in a predetermined relative position in the casing bore.

5. In a lock device of the character described, a casing, a lock cylinder mounted in the casing and rotatable therein upon the insertion of. a proper key into the lock cylinder, means for securing the lock cylinder against detachment from the casing, a member insertable into the lock cylinder ahead or" the key, and means whereby pressure applied on the key moves said means inserted in the lock cylinder to a position in which it is operable to move the securing means to inactive position to permit the removal of the lock cylinder from the casing.

6. In a lock device of the character described, a casing, a lock cylinder mounted in the casing and rotatable therein upon the insertion of a proper key into the lock cylinder, means for securing the lock cylinder against detachment from the casing, a member insertable into the lock cylinder ahead of the key, means whereby said member moves the securing means to inactive position to permit the removal of the lock cylinder from the casing, and means permitting the removal of said member inserted into the lock cylinder ahead of the key from the lock cylinder without withdrawing the key.

7. In a lock device of the character described, a casing, a lock cylinder insertable into the casing and having a key slot to receive a key and an extension slot communicating with the key slot, a retaining member carried by the casing and engaging the lock cylinder to prevent longitudinal movement thereof with respect to the casing, the extension slot in the lock cylinder aligning with the retaining means when the lock cylinder is in a predetermined position, and a key extension movable into the extension slot and operable to move the retaining means to inactive position to permit the removal of the lock cylinder from the casing when the extension slot is aligned with the retaining means.

8. In a lock device of the character described, a casing having a bore and an opening communieating with the bore, a lock cylinder insertable into the bore and having a key slot adapted to receive a key and an annular groove which aligns with the opening in the casing when the lock cylinder is in a predetermined relative position with the casing, a yieldable retaining member extended through the opening in the casing and engaged in the annular groove in the lock cylinder to prevent longitudinal movement of the lock cylinder with respect to the casing, and means whereby an extension of the key moves the yieldable retaining member out of the annular groove in the lock cylinder to permit removal of. the lock cylinder from the casing bore.

9. In a lock device of the character described, a casing having a bore and an opening communicating with the bore, a lock cylinder having a key slot adapted to receive a key and an. annular groove aligned with the opening in the casing when the lock cylinder is in a predetermined relative position with respect to the casing, a yieldable retaining member extended through the opening in the casing and into the annular groove of the lock cylinder whereby rotation of the lock cylinder is permitted but longitudinal movement thereof is prevented, a member insertable into the key slot of the lock cylinder ahead of the key, and means formed at the end of the key slot whereby pressure applied to the key moves said member to a position engageable with the retaining member to move the same out of the annular groove in the lock cylinder and permit removal thereof from the casing bore.

10. In a lock device of the character described, a casing having a bore and an opening communicating with the bore, a lock cylinder having a key slot adapted to receive a key and anannular groove aligned with the .opening in the casing when the lock cylinder is in a predetermined relative position with respect to the casing, a yieldable retaining member extended through the opening in the casing and into the annular groove of the lock cylinder whereby rotation of the lock cylinder is permitted but longitudinal movement thereof is prevented, a member insertable into the key slot of the lock cylinder ahead of the key, means formed at the end of the key slot whereby pressure applied to the key moves said member to a position engageable with the retaining member to move the same out of the annular groove in the lock cylinder and permit removal thereof from the casing bore, and means permitting removal of said member from the lock cylinder slot without removing the key.

11. In a lock device of the character described, a casing having a bore and an opening communicating with the bore, a lock cylinder having tumblers and a key slot adapted to receive a key for retracting the tumblers within the periphery of the lock cylinder, said key slot being extended inwardly of the tumblers and the ex tension being open at its top, stops formed in the lock cylinder, a retaining member extended through the opening in the casing and engaging the stops to prevent longitudinal movement of the lock cylinder with respect to the casing, a member insertable into the key slot ahead of the key, and means whereby said member may be engaged with the retaining member to move the same out of engagement with the stops to permit removal of the lock cylinder from the casing bore, and said member being readily removable from the extension of the slot through its open top without necessitating the-withdrawal of the-key, whereby the key may be left in engagement with the lock cylinder to retain the tumblers assembled with the lock cylinder.

12. In a lock device of the character described, a casing having a bore and an opening communicating with the bore, a lock cylinder having an annular groove which aligns with the opening in the casing when the lock cylinder is in a predetermined relative position with respect to the casing, a yieldable retaining member embracing the casing and having a portion projected through its opening to engage in the annular groove in the lock cylinder to prevent longitudinal movement thereof with respect to the casing, and means formed on the lock cylinder whereby said portion of the retaining member which engages the annular groove may be moved beyond the periphery of the lock cylinder during insertion thereof into the casing bore, said portion of the retaining member snapping into the annular groove as the same aligns therewith.

13. In a handle construction, a tubular stem having an opening extended therethrough, a lock cylinder insertable into the tubular stem through the front of the handle and having an annular groove which aligns with the opening in the tubular stem when in a predetermined relative position with respect thereto, a spring retaining member substantially surrounding the tubular stem and having a portion extended through its opening and engaged in the annular groove of the lock cylinder to prevent retraction of the lock cylinder from the stem, and means whereby removal of the lock cylinder from the stem may be efiected by inserting a slug into the lock cylinder ahead of its key.

14. In a lock device having a mounting member and a lock cylinder adapted to receive a key and movable therein, yieldable means for maintaining the lock cylinder assembled with the mounting member, and key actuated means for moving the yieldable means to inactive position to permit the removal of the lock cylinder from the mounting member.

15. In a lock device having a mounting member and a lock cylinder provided with a key opening and movable in the mounting member, yieldable means for maintaining the lock cylinder assembled with the mounting member, and means acting through the key opening and upon rotation of the lock cylinder to move the yieldable means and permit the removal of the lock cylinder from the mounting member.

16. In a lock device having a mounting member and a lock cylinder provided with a key opening and rotatable in the mounting member upon the insertion of a proper key, means for preventing longitudinal movement of the lock cylinder, and means insertable into the key opening ahead of the key for, upon rotation of the lock cylinder, moving the first mentioned means to permit removal of the lock cylinder from the mounting member.

17. In a lock device having a mounting member and a lock cylinder provided with a key opening and rotatable in the mounting member upon the insertion of a proper key, means for maintaining the lock cylinder assembled with the mounting member, and means insertable into the key opening ahead of the key and adapted upon rotation of the lock cylinder to disable said retaining means to permit longitudinal movement of the lock cylinder.

18. In a lock device having a mounting mem-- ber and a lock cylinder provided with a key opening and rotatable in the mounting member upon the insertion of a proper key, a stop carried by the lock cylinder, a retaining member normally in engagement with the stop to prevent longitudinal movement of the lock cylinder with respectto the mounting member, and means insertable into the key opening ahead of the key and adapted upon rotation of the lock cylinder to move the retaining means out of engagement with the lock cylinder stop to permit removal of the lock cylinder from the mounting member.

19. In a lock device having a mounting member and a lock cylinder provided with a key opening and rotatable in the mounting member upon the insertion of a proper key, means preventing longitudinal movement of the lock cylinder, means insertable into the key opening to cam said preventing means to inactive position upon rotation of the lock cylinder, and means for guiding said means insertable into the key opening to active position.

20. In a lock device having a mounting member and a lock cylinder provided with a key opening and an annular groove and rotatable therein upon the insertion of a proper key, stop means carried by the mounting member and engageable in the annular groove to prevent longitudinal movement of the lock cylinder, and a member insertable into the key opening ahead of the key to extend into said annular groove whereby rotation of the lock cylin der moves the stop means out of the annular groove to permit removal of the lock cylinder.

21. In a lock device having a mounting member and a lock cylinder provided with a key opening and an annular groove and rotatable in the mounting member upon the insertion of a proper key, yieldable means carried by the mounting member and engaged in said annular groove to prevent longitudinal movement of the lock cylinder, a member insertable into the key opening ahead of the key, and means for guiding the member to a position extending across the annular groove whereby the member cams the stop means out of the annular groove upon rotation of the lock cylinder to' free the lock cylinder for longitudinal movement.

22. A look of the character described, comprising a mounting member, a lock cylinder having a key receiving aperture, said cylinder being movable to and from different positions, locking tumblers for securing the lock cylinder in one position, said tumblers being retractible by the insertion of a proper key into the key receiving aperture, means inwardly of the tumblers for removably securing the lock cylinder in the mounting member, and means whereby a tool inserted into the key receiving aperture disables said last mentioned means to free the cylinder for withdrawal.

23. In a lock device of the character described, a mounting member, a lock cylinder rotatable in the mounting member upon the insertion of a proper key, means for securing the lock cylinder assembled with the mounting member, and means independent of said proper key insertable into the lock cylinder for moving the securing means to inactive position when it is desired to remove the lock cylinder from the mounting member.

24. In a lock device of the character described, a casing, a lock cylinder insertable into the casing and having a key slot to receive a key and an extension slot communicating with extension slot is aligned with the retaining means.

25. In a lock device having a mounting member and a lock cylinder provided with a key opening and rotatable in the mounting member upon the insertion of a proper key, means for maintaining the lock cylinder assembled with the mounting member, and means insertable into the key opening and adapted upon rotation of thelock cylinder to disable said retaining means to permit longitudinal movement of the lock cylinder.

26. In a lock device having a mounting member and a lock cylinder provided with a key opening and rotatable in the mounting member upon the insertion of a proper key, a stop carried by the lock cylinder, a retaining membernormally in engagement with the stop to prevent longitudinal movement of the lock cylinder with respect to the mounting member, and means insertable into the key opening and adapted upon rotation of the lock cylinder to move the re-- taining means out of engagement with the lock cylinder stop to permit removal of the lock cylinder from the mounting member.

27. In a lock device having a mounting member and a lock cylinder provided with a key opening and an annular groove and rotatable therein upon the insertion of a proper key, stop means carried by the mounting member and engageable in the annular groove to prevent longitudinal movement of the lock cylinder, and a member insertable into the key opening to extend into said annular groove whereby rotation of the lock cylinder moves the stop means out of the annular groove to permit removal of the lock cylinder.

28. In a lock device having a mounting member and a lock cylinder provided with a key opening and rotatable in the mounting member upon the insertion of a proper key, cooperating means carried by the lock cylinder and the mounting member for releasably securing the lock cylinder in the mounting member, and means insertable into the lock cylinder key opening for disabling the cooperating means when the lock cylinder is in a predetermined position with respect to the mounting member to release the lock cylinder for removal.

29. A look device, comprising a mounting member, a lock cylinder having a key receiving opening and beingmovable in the mounting member in the performance of its normal locking functions upon the insertion of a proper key in the key receiving opening, means releasably securing the lock cylinder against removal from the mounting member while allowing its movements in the performance of its normal locking functions, and means insertable in. the lock cylinder from its outer end and operable to release the last mentioned means, whereby the locking cylinder may be removed outwardly from the mounting member.

30. In a lock, the combination of a mounting casing, a plug rotatable in and insertable endwise into the casing, key operable tumblers for looking the plug in the casing, said casing and plug having abutments adjacent their inner ends, a holding device at all times in engagement with one abutment and adapted to extend into engagement with the other to secure the plug against withdrawal from the casing, and means to permit a releasing device to be inserted through the front end of the lock to release the holding device, said release of the holding device being possible only When the tumblers are withdrawn into the plug by the key, and said plug is shifted from its locked position.

31. In a lock of. the character described comprising,a housing having a transverse slot therein, and a cylinder rotatable Within the housing and having a circumferential groove in alignment with the slot and a keyway intercepting the groove, means for retaining the cylinder in the housing consisting of a spring embracing the periphery of the housing and having a part extending through the slot and into the groove in the cylinder, said part being adapted to be forced out of said groove by a key inserted in the keyway so as to permit the cylinder to be removed from the housing.

32. In a lock of the character described comprising, a housing having a slot therein, and a cylinder rotatable within the housing and having a groove in registry with the slot and a keyway intercepting the groove, means for preventing axial movement of the cylinder while permitting rotative movement consisting of resilient means passing through the slot and entering the groove and capable of removal from the groove by pressure exerted outwardly upon it, by a key inserted in the keyivay.

33. A look of character described comprising, a housing and having a groove and a keyway intercepting the groove, 9. cylinder rotatable within the housing, and means for retaining the cylinder within the housing While permitting it to rotate therein, said means consisting of resilient means carried by the housing and extending therefrom into the groove, said resilient means being disengageable from the groove in the cylinder by pressure acting outwardly on its inner end, by a key inserted in the keyway.

34. In a lock of the character described, a housing, a cylinder rotatably mounted therein, said housing being provided with an opening in the Wall thereof and the cylinder being provided with a recess registering with said opening, means for releasably retaining the cylinder within the housing, comprising a spring-pressed member mounted in said opening and extending into said recess, and said cylinder being provided with a key slot communicating with the recess therein.

35. In a device of the character indicated, a cylinder, a plug rotatably mounted therein, said plug having a longitudinal key slot, locking means carried by said cylinder for locking said plug against withdrawal from said cylinder, said looking means being accessible from the front of said plug through said slot for permitting the same to be unlocked and drawn outwardly through the front of the cylinder.

36. In a device of the character indicated, a cylinder, a plug rotatably mounted therein, said plug having a circumferential groove thereon, a spring pressed key carried by said cylinder and normally extending into said groove for holding said plug against Withdrawal from said cylinder, said spring pressed key being operable by the lock key to release said plug and permit it to be drawn outwardly relatively to said cylinder.

3'7. The combination with a cylinder lock having a casing and a key operable plug having a key slot, of a member movable along the key slot with the key for releasing the plug so that it may be removed by said key.

38. In a lock of the character described, comprising, a housing, and a cylinder rotatable within the housing and having a keyway, means carried by the housing and engaging the cylinder for retaining the cylinder in the housing, said retaining means preventing axial movement of the cylinder in the housing but permitting rotative movement thereof, said retaining means being adapted to be engaged by a key insertable within the cylinder for disengaging the retaining means from the cylinder to permit the cylinder to be removed from the housing.

39. A look of the. character described comprising, a housing, a cylinder rotatable within the housing and having a series of tumblers, said housing having a longitudinal slot in Which the outer ends of the tumblers are adapted to be received, said cylinder having a keyway to receive a key to retract the tumblers from the slot, and a circumferential groove formed on its inner end beyond the tumblers, said housing having an aperture in alignment with the groove, retaining means mounted on the periphery of the housing and having a part extending through the aperture and into the groove to prevent the cylinder from axial movement while permitting rotative movement thereof, said retaining means being adapted to be engaged by a key insertable Within the keyway for disengaging the retaining means from the groove to permit the cylinder to be removed from the housing.

EDWARD N. JACOBI. 

